Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-05
BALL CURVES.


In the act of delivering the "in.curve'
or 'in-shoot-so called because it turns
suddenly toward the pitchers right, in
toward the batsman-the arm is swung
forward at full length. the body also tax
ing part thoroughly in the effort; every
muscle is strained to give the ball speed.
just before it leaves the hand the fore
arm and hands are sharply drawn across
the chest, and the hand licked quickly on
the wrist with "A sudden jerk or snap, and
the ball allowed TO roll OFF the tips Of the
index and meadan fingers. This imparts
to the ball rotary motion forward and
from left so right.
In the position of pitching the out.
curve the arm is also swung at full
length, either above or below the shoulder
Then. with a short, quick motion, the
hand is quickly ileXed and abducted, and
the elbow drawn backward and outward,
while the ball is allowed to roll of the
radal side OF the index finger. This i'm
parts to it a rotary motion forward, and
from right TO left.
In the delivery of the down curve, or
drop ball, so known because Will IN the
act of yielding to gravltatiOn in the ordi-
nary manner, it suddenly takes sharp
turn down, and falls to the ground several
feet shorter than it would have done with
out the special twist impaired TO 1t for
this purpose, the arm is swung back With
full force, and brought up over the mead,
or on level with the ear with the forearm
a little heXed. The greatest force IS now
eXerted in bringing the hand and arm
quickly downward and forward, when,
iust before the ball leaves the pitcher, the
wrist is snapped to semi -adductlon ana
eXtenslon-i. e., directly downward. The
ball rolls off the upper or radlal side of
the index finger, and has impaired to 1t
rotation forward aud downward.
In the production of the up-Curve, or
rising ball, so designated, because 1t turns
upward with the conveXity of the curve
downward the arm is drawn far back, the
body is bent and the arm then forcibly and
quickly brought forward, with the hand
near the knee. AT this time the forearm
is suddenly and forcibly supinated and
the wrist semi abducted and extended and
the ball permitted to roll off the lower
most edge of the hand e., from the radl-
cal side of the index finger, This lmpartS
to the ball forward and upward rota-
ton.
AS has already been said, combination
of any of these curves is possible For
example, ball delivered from the tips OF
the upturned fingers, with the rlsihg-ball
delivery, seeds the ball upward ana
causes It to descend before it reaches the
batsman, and is known as the shake
ball. or rising drop.
The curving of the ball, or its lateral
deviation from the proper line. Is all due
to the rotary motion impaired TO 1t by the
sudden jerky, Swapping motions OF the
forearm and hand and pressure of the
| fingers. The curving is explained
on the principle of the gyroseope.
The peculiar and apparently awkward mo-
/ ton in pitching is necessary to lmpart TO
the ball the proper gyratlon or twist while
the body movements are added to increase
the speed of the ball in its passage from
pitcher to the batsman Every pitcher
has somewhat different mode of deliv-
cry, and upon this depends the exact loca-
ton of the disabling trouble under which
| he may be laboring